Jann Arden says pandemic has given her 'time to be reflective'

Canadian musician Jann Arden said writing her newest album in the middle of the pandemic gave her "a lot of time to be reflective."

The writing process for "Descendant," Arden's 15th studio album out Friday, began in the spring of 2020, in the early days of the global outbreak of COVID-19.

"It was very much just about encouraging my friends and my family," Arden told CTV's Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme.

Newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox

Arden said the concept for "Descendant" was born out of those connections to her family, including her mother who has Alzheimer's, and the strong women who came before her.

"Our ancestors had to get through some very difficult situations," Arden told CTV News.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse

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Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality

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Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say

A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.

B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization

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OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors

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An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York

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Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom

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Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering

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Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say

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Canada

Regina police officer injured after another officer's gun accidentally fired

A Regina police officer was injured after another officer's gun was accidentally fired while conducting a search warrant early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled

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'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her

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Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates

Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say

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World

Columbia leadership rebuked by faculty panel for police crackdown on protesters

Columbia University's embattled president came under renewed pressure on Friday as a campus oversight panel sharply criticized her administration for clamping down on a pro-Palestinian protest at the Ivy League school.
Harvey Weinstein due back in court, while a key witness weighs whether to testify at a retrial

Harvey Weinstein will appear in a New York City court next week, the first step in potentially retrying the film mogul after his 2020 rape conviction was overturned.
U.S. President Joe Biden says he's 'happy to debate' Donald Trump. Trump says he's ready to go

U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday that he is willing to debate his presumptive Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall – his most definitive comment yet on the issue.
British Army says horses that bolted and ran loose in central London continue 'to be cared for'

The military horses that bolted and ran loose when spooked by construction noise in central London earlier this week "continue to be cared for and closely observed," the British Army said Friday.
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U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom

An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.

Politics

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Canada allocates millions for drone production, ammunition to support Ukraine

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AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled

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Health

Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality

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'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising

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More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse

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Sci-Tech

These are the countries where TikTok is already banned

TikTok is in the crosshairs of authorities in the U.S., where a new law threatens a nationwide ban unless its China-based parent ByteDance divests. Here are the places that have partial or total bans on TikTok.
Hubble Space Telescope marks 34 years with new portrait of a 'cosmic dumbbell'

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Boeing and NASA decide to move forward with historic crewed launch of new spacecraft

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Entertainment

B.C. composer with debilitating condition realizes dream of scoring movie

When Art Kinarthy embarked upon this quest, he never could have imagined where it would ultimately lead.
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler wins dismissal for good of sexual assault lawsuit

A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed for good a lawsuit accusing Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler of sexually assaulting a former teenage model twice in one day in the mid-1970s.
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Business

Ottawa, Quebec commit $100M for semiconductor capacity in Bromont, Que., 280 jobs

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Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: Jobs report

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Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold

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Lifestyle

Dishing out history: A look back at defunct restaurants in Winnipeg

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Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million

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$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months

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Sports

DonAir force takes over at Oilers playoff games

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Nylander rejoins Leafs during practice ahead of Game 4 against Bruins

Maple Leafs winger William Nylander appears on course to suit up for the first time in this spring's Stanley Cup playoffs.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy

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Autos

'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments

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Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold

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Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants

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Canucks defeat Predators in Game 3, take 2-1 series lead

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Calls for changes to Hwy. 5 after CN Rail worker killed in head-on collision

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1 man in custody after suspicious fire at Surrey townhome, RCMP say

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Toronto

More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse

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Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say

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'Extremely traumatizing:' Boy, 11, struck by transport truck in Etobicoke

An 11-year-old boy struck by a transport truck in Etobicoke on Friday morning suffered critical injuries and is receiving treatment at a Toronto trauma centre, police say.

Calgary

Stabbing at Calgary Value Village under investigation by police

Calgary police took two people into custody on Friday after a stabbing in the community of Haysboro.
'It's been a wonderful ride': Reunited 'X-Men' cartoon voice cast excited to meet fans new and old at Calgary Expo

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Warmer, windy Saturday ahead for Calgary

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Ottawa

Trucker from Newfoundland missing in eastern Ontario

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'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising

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Queen’s University names award-winning journalist Shelagh Rogers as next chancellor

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Montreal

'Do I ghost her again?': Quebec minister's office ignores questions on housing as a human right

The office of Quebec Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau prefers to openly ignore journalists' requests.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video

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Truck driver dies in workplace accident at Port of Montreal

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Edmonton

Cat who jumped from burning balcony will recover: management company

A cat that jumped from the balcony of a burning building in downtown Edmonton on Thursday afternoon will make a full recovery, building officials say.
'So damn undemocratic': Edmonton mayor reacts to legislation granting province power to fire councillors or veto local bylaws

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DonAir force takes over at Oilers playoff games

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Atlantic

First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old

A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
Cape Breton police find dead body in woods

Cape Breton Regional Police found a dead body in Sydney, N.S., Thursday evening.
Community steps up to support popular chef during cancer battle

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Winnipeg

Avs rally for 6-2 win over Jets in Game 3

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'All these families are now scrambling': Gimli parents concerned about policy changes to child care

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Dishing out history: A look back at defunct restaurants in Winnipeg

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Regina

Man charged with murder, victim identified in southeast Sask. homicide case

RCMP have identified 28-year-old Brianna Hayes from Oxbow, Sask. as the victim in an ongoing homicide investigation in the province’s southeast. As a result, police have charged 24-year-old Taylor Japp, also from Oxbow with second degree murder, an RCMP news release said.
Lego therapy program expands through Yorkton SaskAbilities

Youth in Yorkton can now access a new Lego Therapy program in their community through SaskAbilities.
Regina police officer injured after another officer's gun accidentally fired

A Regina police officer was injured after another officer's gun was accidentally fired while conducting a search warrant early Friday morning.

Kitchener

Delays in Queen Victoria statue consultation have become 'disrespectful,' say Kitchener Indigenous community leaders

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250 Frederick Street ownership tied to alleged reno-victions in London, Hamilton

An investor with ties to apartment buildings across Ontario appears to be connected to 250 Frederick Street in Kitchener.
About 10 companies interested in Wilmot land, says Minister of Economic Investment

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Saskatoon

Saskatchewan's $90M social services initiative underway

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Saskatoon police investigating after body found at recycling facility

The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) and Saskatchewan Coroners Service are investigating after a woman’s body was found at a recycling facility Friday morning.
Four people arrested after attempted armed robbery in Saskatoon

Four people, including two teen girls, were arrested and charged after an attempted armed robbery on Thursday evening.

Northern Ontario

Northern Ont. hunters fined $8,500 for illegal moose hunt

Two hunters from North Bay, Ont., and a third from Temagami pled guilty recently to offences they committed during a 2022 moose hunt.
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Police in northern Ont. attacked by person they found lying in the street

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London

Increased police presence in Tillsonburg

Police said they were called to a weapons-related incident on Morning Glory Drive around 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Pilot project sees Londoners in apartments and condos join green bin organic waste program

Three months after the launch of curbside green bin collection for homeowners, a pilot project will analyze expanding the program to include medium to high-density apartments and condominiums.
Portion of Highway 401 reopens following fatal crash

A fatal crash in Thames Centre closed down a portion of Highway 401 westbound. Around 2:15 a.m., first responders were called to westbound lanes of the highway between Culloden and Putnam Roads for a two-vehicle crash.

Barrie

One person killed in highway 400 crash in Innisfil

One person killed in multi-vehicle crash in Innisfil on Friday.
Gateway Casinos considers relocating from Innisfil venue

With its Innisfil location’s lease set to expire within the next five years, Gateway Casinos is eyeing a plan to move.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.

Windsor

NFL Draft: Windsor welcomes as Detroit overflows with fans

All the excitement of the NFL Draft has officially descended upon Detroit, with Windsor welcoming the spillover.
Julien’s House opens new Nick Dyer Clubhouse to offer peer-to-peer grief support

A ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of a new grief support centre on Baseline Road in Windsor marked a bittersweet moment for many at Julien’s House Friday morning.
Windsor police seize $120,000 in drugs

Windsor police have arrested two people after seizing $120,000 in illegal drugs.

Vancouver Island

B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization

The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Saanich to consider amalgamating fire department with Victoria, Esquimalt, Oak Bay

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B.C. composer with debilitating condition realizes dream of scoring movie

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Kelowna

B.C. man rescues starving dachshund trapped in carrier: BC SPCA

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Search crews called in after missing Kelowna senior's truck found

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Homicide investigation underway after body found near Kelowna, B.C.

Major crime detectives in British Columbia are investigating a suspected homicide after a body was found in a remote area southeast Kelowna over the weekend.

Lethbridge

'No real winner' following first Alberta NDP leadership debate: political scientist

An Alberta political scientist said the NDP leadership hopefuls remained fairly even following the first of the party’s debates.
Multiple grass fires sparked near Kipp rail yard

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Former U of L student awarded diversity, equity and inclusion medal by NASA

A former University of Lethbridge student has been awarded the Medal for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Equity by NASA.

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault begins phase 2 in waterfront development plan

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is looking for community input on some design concepts for the waterfront.
Sault council looks at options for vacant home tax

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Northern Ont. hunters fined $8,500 for illegal moose hunt

Two hunters from North Bay, Ont., and a third from Temagami pled guilty recently to offences they committed during a 2022 moose hunt.

N.L.

Voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole never considered moving out of St. John's

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Cenovus fined $2.5 million for biggest oil spill in Newfoundland and Labrador history

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Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit

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